Device for holding operating tools at elevated heights

ABSTRACT

To hold and carry out working operations with a tool at a considerable height above ground level, such as in washing windows and glass surfaces, a holding device is formed of a plurality of coupled rod sections forming an elongated rod with the tool positioned on one end of the rod, a holding ring is located adjacent each of the opposite ends of the rod and support members are spaced axially along the rod between the holding rings. Wire ropes extend between the holding ring and the support members and are tensioned to increase the stability of the device.

United States Patent 1191 Benz Sept. 3, 1974 [54] DEVICE FOR HOLDING OPERATING 3,214,187 10/1965 Fuerst 248/188.5 x TOOLS AT ELEVATED HEIGHTS 3,391,757 7/1968 Duke et al. 182/38 X 3,611,652 10/1971 Robenforst et al. 52/110 [76] Inventor: August Benz, Algierstrasse 70,

Zufikon Switzerland FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 206,614 12/1959 Austria 52/648 [221 Flledl 1972 153,731 3/1956 Sweden 52/648 [21] Appl. No.: 314,233

Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Toren, McGeady and [30] Foreign Application Priority Data stanger Dec. 15, 1971 Switzerland 18309/71 52 U S l 248 2 1 40 [57] ABS CT %51} ln.t .CCl Eiyih 5234 To hold and carry out working operations with a tool i at a considerable height above ground level such as in [58] Fleld gfzsearch 248/2 f 52/654 washing windows and glass surfaces, a holding device /648 15/340 is formed of a luralit of cou l d rod sections form 339 220 250.11- 182/38 P P e mg an elongated rod with the tool positioned on one end of the rod, a holding ring is located adjacent each [56] References Clted of the opposite ends of the rod and support members UNITED STATES PATENTS are spaced axially along the rod between the holding 856,138 6/1907 Grassfield 52/648 X rings. Wire ropes extend between the holding ring and 2,593,989 4/ 1952 Crandall 52/548 the support members and are tensioned to increase 2,902,110 9/1959 Eickh0ldt.... 182/36 X the Stability of the device 3,099,852 8/1963 Grant 15/340 X 3,204,721 9/1965 Park 52/648 X 27 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures l 5 I l 2 a Z T V 41:. 1, Fl 3 3c1fi 3 b 5e l.1

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slmsor e DEVICE FOR HOLDING OPERATING TOOLS AT ELEVATED HEIGHTS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a device for using tools at considerable heights above ground level and, more particularly, it is directed to an elongated rod formed of individual coupled sections with the rod braced and tensioned to increase its stability.

For cleaning the fronts of houses, particularly windows and glass surfaces located at great heights above ground level, it has been known to secure the cleaning tool at the end of a telescopic rod. To limit the weight of such rods and to prevent excessive bending, it has been necessary to limit to a considerable extent 'the length of the rods, accordingly, it has not been possible to carry out the cleaning operations at heights above about 10 to 12 meters.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a device for carrying out working operations at considerable heights above ground level which avoids the disadvantages of known devices and permits manual operation even at substantially greater heights than have been possible in the past. Accordingly, an axially elongated rod is provided, formed of rod sections joined together by detachable plug couplings with at least one wire rope secured at its ends to holding rings located adjacent the opposite ends of the rod with support members affording intermediate support for the wire rope at positions spaced laterally outwardly from the rod.

As a result, it is possible to construct a mainly lightweight tool holding device which is stable and can be adjusted in a simple manner for use at different heights, even though the rod used is very light and would bend considerably without the stabilizing action of the wire rope. When using a number of wire ropes or wire rope sections, if necessary with additional diagonally extending wire rope connections, it is possible to increase the stability of the device and to attain maximum working heights, especially when the wire ropes are additionally tensioned by a tensioning device.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the present invention; a

FIG. 1a is a sectional view taken along line laIa in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 isa side elevation, partly in section, of a device for tensioning the wire ropes in the device as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are sectional views through the tensioning device shown in FIG. 2 and taken along the lines III-III and IV-IV in FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views of two embodiments of plug couplings for joining individual rod sections together;

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of a tensioning means for tensioning the wire ropes which includes a detachable ratchet device;

FIGS. 10 and 11 indicate schematically an embodiment for movably supporting the device as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 shows the stabilization of a partial rod and the connection with additional extensions;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of another tensioning device;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a partial enlarged side sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view taken along line XVIXVI in FIG. 15; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic showing of another embodiment of the present invention formed, in combination, of the devices disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, a portion of an elongated tool holding device is illustrated in which a longitudinally extending rod is formed of a plurality of interconnected or coupled rod sections lalf. At the upper end of the device,

the top rod section 1a is arranged to receive a tool, not shown, while the bottom rod section If can be used as a handle. Adjacent the upper end of rod section 1b and adjacent the lower end of rod section 1e holding rings 2, 8, respectively, are positioned with a plurality of support members 3, 6, 7 mounted on the rod sections between the holding rings. Four wire ropes 4 extend between the holding rings 2, 8 and over the support members 3, 6 and 7. The wire ropes serve to strengthen and stabilize the rod 1. Each of the support members 3, 6, 7 has a guide ring 3a, 6a, 7a which is arranged for axial movement along the rod sections with each guide ring having bores 3f, 6f, 7f therethrough. As can be seen in FIG. 1a, each of the support members 3, 6, 7 has four guide arms 3b, 6b, 7b extending radially outwardly from its guide ring. The support arms can be secured to the guide ring by welding and the like. The radially outer ends of the guide arms are connected to the adjacent guide arms by sections of wire rope, such as the sections 6h as shown in FIG. la. Corresponding to the greater stress in one direction, the distance of the wire rope sections from the rod is greater in the direction of the stress than transverse thereto.

In FIGS. 1 and la, a wire rope ring 6i is shown, positioned, if advantageous, near the ends of the wire rope sections, to prevent the tangling of the free ends of the wire rope sections. For the sake of clarity, only one wire rope ring is shown, however, several such wire rope rings can be used, if needed.

In the device, the wire ropes 4 are divided into individual wire rope sections. At the upper end of the device four top sections 4b are secured to the holding ring and extend outwardly to the outer ends of the arms 3b on the support member 3. Extending between the upper support member 3 and the intermediate support member 6 are wire rope sections 40 attached at their upper ends to the arms 3b and having loops 3c at the lower end which are engaged on hooks 6d extending upwardly from the outer ends of the guide arms 6b on the support member 6. Four wire rope sections 4d are provided between the intermediate support member 6 and the lower support member 7 each secured at its upper end to one of the arms of the intermediate support member and having a loop 60 at its lower end which is engaged on a hook 7d extending upwardly from the outer end of an arm 7b on the lower support member 7. From the lower support member 7, four wire rope sections 4e extend downwardly from the outer end of each of the arms 7b and have loops 70 attached to hooks 8d secured to and extending upwardly from the lower holding ring 8. Accordingly, the four lowermost wire rope sections 4e terminate on the holding ring 8 which extends about the rod section 1e. The wire rope sections 4c, 4d, and 4e are of equal lengths. If the length of the rod 1 is such that the wire rope sections terminate on the rod section 1d or 1c, the holding ring 8 is used without the support members 6, 7, and the loops 3c at the lower ends of the wire rope sections 4c are secured into the hooks 8d on the holding ring.

It is important for the stability of the device that the uppermost support member 3 and the lower support member 7 are secured against rotation and axial displacement on the rod sections. As indicated in FIG. 5, a coupling pin bolt 2e extends through the rod section lb and the coupling pin for securing the holding ring 2 against rotation. Similar coupling pin bolts 32 and 7e are provided for the uppermost support member 3 and for the lower support member 7.

Accordingly, the major parts of the device contain the following elements:

a. The end elements which consist of the uppermost and lowermost rod sections la, If, these elements can be adapted in various ways depending on the use to which the device is employed.

b. The head part consists of the two rod sections 1b, 1c, the holding ring 2, the uppermost support member 3 with their respective coupling bolts 2e, 3e and the wire rope sections 4b, 40 along with the loops 30 at the lower ends of the rope sections 46.

c. The extensions or intermediate parts each consisting of a support member with upwardly directed hooks at their corners and with downwardly extending wire rope sections with loops at the lower ends of the sections. In FIG. 1 such an extension is formed by the rod section 1d, the rope sections 4d and the intermediate support member 6.

d. The bottom part to which the lower ends of the wire ropes are connected consists of pipe section 12, the wire rope sections 4e, the lower support member 7 and the bottom holding ring 8. By means of these major parts, it is possible to construct the device to various lengths. For a short device, one extension can be removed and the end ring secured on the rod section 10. Furthermore, for increasing the stability of the device, tensioning means can be incorporated on the device.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, either two adjoining or all four holding arms on a support member can be equipped with means for tensioning the wire rope sections in the individual support members, for example, in the uppermost support member 3, as shown in FIG. 2. The arm 3b is formed of a tubular section 10 with a bar 11 extending outwardly from the end of the tubular section 10 and with the lower end of wire rope section 4b and the upper end of wire rope section 40 secured to the radially outer end of the bar 1 l. A holding plate 12 is secured on the bar 11 and an elastic flat bar 13 secured by a screw 14 to the bar 11 extends inwardly to the outer end of the tube 10. A-depression 15 is formed in the bar 11 and has the effect of providing a greater surface of contact between the flat bar 13 and the end of the tube 10.

When the device is assembled, the tensioning members 12 to 15 are in the untensioned state and they are tensioned only after the assembly is completed and, during disassembly, they are first placed in the untensioned state.

In an alternate arrangement of the principal construction shown, the rod section 1d, is provided with two diagonal connections 9 for providing greater stability for the rod 1. In FIG. 1 one of the diagonal connection 9 is shown in full lines while the other diagonal connection 9a is shown in dot-dash lines. One extends from the lower right-hand loop 60 to the upper end of the oppositely disposed wire rope section 4d and the other diagonal connection 9a extends from the lower left hand loop 6c to the upper right-hand end of the wire rope section 4d. The arrangement from the bottom-outside to the top-inside can be reversed in the range of the upper end of the rod, that is, from the bottom-inside to the top-outside. If necessary, crossed diagonal connections can also be provided. A particularly stable design of the rod is afforded by using additional diagonal connections, represented in phantom lines in FIG. 1, by which the wire rope sections are connected in the crosswise direction, and which, as far as is visible in FIG. 1, are designated with 9a, 9b, 9c. Not more than eight diagonal connections can be provided for each extension, and only that number is used which is necessary for the desired purpose for which the device is employed.

When the diagonal connections 9 are employed, the lowermost support member 7 must also be secured against rotation as is the uppermost support member 3. The support member 7 is secured against rotation by the coupling bolt 7e. If an arrangement is used with a diagonal connection 9 in the bottom part, note FIG. 1, it remains untensioned, since the wire rope sections are engaged to the bottom holding ring 8.

In FIG. 5 a section through the holding ring 2 is illustrated and a pair of diammetrically opposed eyes 20 are provided on the holding ring. The upper ends of the wire rope sections 4b are secured, in a suitable manner, into the eyes 20, for example, by soldering. Further, the holding ring has a pair of oppositely disposed bores 2f and aligned bores are also provided in the rod section lb and in the coupling tube 5 so that the coupling bolt 2e can be passed completely through the bores so that the ends extend outwardly beyond the holding ring for receiving the threaded wing nuts 23.

Instead of the wire rope section ends being secured as on the upper holding ring 2, the lower holding ring 8 has hooks 8d so that the bores 8f, not visible in the drawing, can be used for the coupling bolt and for locking the support members to the other rod sections.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, two different embodiments of the plug coupling for joining adjacent ends of the rod sections together, are shown. The plug couplings consist of the coupling tubes 5 which extend coaxially with and within the rod sections 1. Bores 25 are provided on the diametrically opposed sides of the coupling tubes 5 and a single bore 25 also extends through each of the rod sections ld-l f for effecting the coupling action. In

FIGS. 6 and 7 two different guide bolts 26, 26' are shown each biased by means of a spring 27 so that the end of the guide bolts is directed through the mating bores 25 in the coupling tube and the rod section. Screws 28 limit the displacement path of the bolts for preventing the bolts from dropping out after assembly. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the bolt 26 is guided by a pin 29 which extends in the axial direction from a head 30 which is seated within the bore 25 on the opposite side of the coupling tube from the matched bores into which the bolt 26 seats. In FIG. 7 the threaded stud 28 affords the guiding action for the bolt 26. The diametrically guided coupling pins permit the maintenance of a minimum play between the coupling bolts 26, 26' and the bores 25.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 another arrangement is shown for tensioning the wire ropes 4. With this tensioning device, the basic construction shown in FIG. 1 is changed so that the bottom holding ring 8 is replaced bya support member 32 having a guide ring 33 about the rod and arms 34 extending radially outwardly from the guide ring. In this arrangement the guide ring is a square tube which moves easily on anothersquare tube 37 which is rigidly connected with the pipe section 1 f, the guide tube has an opening 38 so that the bore'25 in the rod section is accessible and the coupling bolt 26 or 26' can be actuated for assembling and disassembling the device.

For tensioning the wire ropes 4, a tensioning device is provided consisting of the wire ropes 55, rope pulleys 60 and the lever 61. The rope pulleys 60 are rotatable on an axle 57 which, in turn,is mounted on the rod section 1 f and is operated by means of the tubular tensioning lever 61 rigidly connected with the pair of rope pulleys. A supporting ring 58, encircling and movable in the axial direction of the rod section 1f, can be locked in position by means of a pin 69 passing through a bore 67. Laterally mounted on the supporting ring 58 is a bearing tube 56 into whichthe axle 57 is positioned and the bearing tube also supports a ratchet segment 83. The wire rope sections 4f, extending downwardly from the support member 32, are secured to the fastening points 36 on the holding ring 35 and the two wire ropes 55 extend downwardly from the holding ring and pass over the rope pulleys and are secured thereon. The tensioning of the wire ropes is achieved by turning the tensioning lever 61 in the upward direction. For locking the lever 61 a ratchet 84 is located within the lever so that it engages the ratchet segment 83 and a spring 85 within the tubular lever 61 presses the ratchet against the ratchet segment 83. The spring 85 is supported on the opposite end from the ratchet by an abutment 88. Within the tubular lever 61, a tension element 87 extends for acting on the ratchet 84 and the element is connected to a pivot lever 86 positioned on the end of the tubular lever 61 spaced outwardly from the ratchet segment. By turning the pivot lever 86, the ratchet 84 is retracted from its engagement position and the tubular lever 61 is released. When the tensioning means are released, the loops of the wire rope sections can be disengaged from the hooks on the support members and the individual rod sections of the rod can be disassembled.

In FIGS. and 11 a special application of the device according to the present invention is illustrated. Very long rods cannot be used for a prolonged period of time because of their relatively heavy weight unless some auxiliary means is provided, even though the device has a low weight per unit of length, movement in the lateral direction is difficult to effect. This difficulty,'however, can be overcome by a simple supporting device 99.

The device 90 illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 1 1 incorporates the basic arrangement shown in FIG. 1, but is equipped with' additional extension or intermediate sections 91. Accordingly, the device 90 consists of the end sections 10, If and between these sections are'arranged the extensions 91 with crossed diagonal connections, extensions 92 with diagonal connections from the bottom-outside to the top-inside, an extension 93 without any diagonal connections, and an extension 94 with diagonal connections from the bottom-inside to the top-outside. The overall device can be equipped with a tensioning means, though not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, such as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The supporting device 99 can be moved on a floor or base surface 104 along a line parallel to the wall 102 with the device 99 supported on a pair of wheels 101 each arranged at anopposite end of the horizontal tube 103 which also extends parallel to the wall 102.

At its lower end, a guide strut 105 is connected to the tube 103 and it extends upwardly parallel to the rod of the device 90 and is inclined relative .to the wall 102. A braced link 106 is secured at its lower end to one end of the tube 103 and extends upwardly at an angle to the strut 105.

A slide 107 is movably mounted on the guide strut by means of rollers, not shown, and is connected by means of two struts 108 to the handle or lower section 1f of the rod 95. The connection of the struts 108 to the rod 95 is preferably effected by easily dismountable clips. To afford an upward and downward stroke movement of the slide, it can be provided with adjusting rings, not shown, and for holding the slide in place clamping means, not shown, can be used.

The device 90 can be operated either by a motor or manually. Further, a counterweight, balancing approximately the weight of the device, can be provided so that the device needs only to be actuated but not supported.

At the upper end of the struts 105, 106, a guide roller 110 is mounted with a wire rope 111 connected to the upper end of the struts extending over the guide roller 110 and having a weight 109 secured to its lower end. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, a rail 1 12 can be positioned on the uppermost portion of the wall 102, above its uppermost windows, and extending parallel to the wall. A roller 1 13 is mounted on the rail and a guide roller 114 is dependently supported from the roller 1 13.

The axis of the guide roller positioned above the guide strut 105, which must have a certain size, is preferably offset slightly in the lateral direction so that the wire rope 111 can pass with the counterweight 109 out of the path of the wheels 101, the tube 103, the guide struts 105, 106. When the guide roller 114 is suspended from the roller 113, a support 115, mounted on and extending laterally from the upper end of the device 90, has a wire rope 116 extending between the free end of the support and the guide roller 114 so that the extension 117 of the wire rope passes downwardly between the wall 102 and the upper part of the rod 95. A counterweight 118, provided at the lower end of the extension 117 of the wire rope 116, is spaced from the wall 102 and the additional pressure of the device is increased in the direction of the wall 102. The pressure or force acting on the wall 102 is also influenced by the length of the support 115, as well as by the inclination of the rod 95 relative to the wall 102.

For motor-driven upward and downward movement of the device 90, a switch 119 is positioned on and extends horizontally from the upper end of the rod 95 toward the wall 102. The switch 119 reverses the motor drive when the device reaches a particular point, such as the projecting edge of a window.

An auxiliary rope 120, secured at its upper end to the rod section 1a, is represented in phantom lines in FIG. and serves to lift the device 95 during use. Further, it can be used as a lateral safety member and also as a guide.

Since the stability of the device generally increases with the increasing initial stress on the wire ropes 4, manual tensioning can be replaced, for example, by hydraulic means, if very high devices are used, such as devices mounted on a vehicle. Accordingly, the wire ropes 4 are secured to the bottom end of the vehicle and the rod is lifted by a hydraulic hoisting unit until the desired initial stress is achieved.

It should be noted that in the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 8 and 9, the square guide tube 37 can be replaced by any other longitudinal guide, for example, a round tube with a guide for the ring 33. The important feature is that the holding ring 32 is not rotatable and is only slightly axially displaceable.

The extensions described under 0 above are preferably all of relatively great and equal length. If, in addition, an extension is used which is only half as long, any intermediate height can be reached.

When erecting a very long rod, which cannot be put up directly, that part of the rod which has the greatest length is erected first. The end ring, which is mounted for the installation, remains mounted so that the partial rod maintains its stability when additional extensions are added in the inclined position. The extension with the mounted end ring, as well as the following extension are coupled to each other in the following manner, note FIG. 12.

a. The support member of the upper extension has a downwardly directed hook 130a located on the ends of the guide arms 130.

b. The ends of the guide arms 131 of the lower support member do not have hooks, but the upwardly extending wire rope sections 131b have loops at the upper ends which fit into the downwardly directed hooks 130a on the arms 130.

In FIG. 13 another tensioning device is illustrated and it consists of a cap 135 attached to the lower end of a rod with a forked lever 136 extending laterally outwardly from and articulated eccentrically to the cap. A longitudinally adjustable rope 137 is secured to the bottom ring 8 at its upper end and at its lower end it is attached to the lever 136. The wire ropes 4 are connected at their lower ends to the bottom holding ring 8. By turning the lever 136 in the direction of the arrow 138, the wire ropes 4 are tensioned with the ring moving downwardly into the position 8e, shown in dashed lines, and in this lower position a coupling bolt is inserted into the bore 139 for securing the ring in position.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, only a single run of wire rope is used and the device '193b-193e extend transversely outwardly from the rod sections and secure a wire rope 94 in spaced relationship from the rod 1. Each of the holding arms is formed of two supporting tubes 193 whose outer ends are connected together and then diverged inwardly toward the rod sections. The inner ends 193 of the holding arms 193 each supports a bearing pin 195 directed toward the other holding arm and the bearing pins are pivotally locked in the bores 196 of the rod sections with an elastic closing force. At the outer or free ends of the holding arms, a downwardly directed hook 197 is provided in which the wire rope sections 1940-194e are secured. As illustrated in FIG. 15, for the holding arm 193d, the wire rope section 194e having a loop, is secured in the hook 197. The other end of each of the wire rope sections is secured in bores in the next holding arm. In a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 1, the uppermost wire rope section 199b is undetachably fixed to the uppermost holding arm 193b and is detachably secured on a hook 200 on the upper end of rod section 1b. Each of the other holding arms is connected to the rod 1 by a diagonal rope 1990-1992 which is detachably connected to a hook 200 on the rod. Further, a downwardly extending diagonal rope section 20lb-201e extends from the outer end of the holding arms to a hook secured to the bottom end of each rod section. As in the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, the number and length of the rod sections, designed as circular tubes, can be adapted to the particular use to which the device is placed. If necessary, individual diagonal rope sections can be omitted in the range of the wire rope which extends parallel to the rod. The assembly of the rod illustrated in FIG. 14 is effected from the top to the bottom by securing the rod sections together. After the desired length of the rod has been obtained, the holding arms are locked and the parallel and diagonal wire rope sections are secured in position. When the rod is erected from the horizontal to the vertical position, the holding arms are directed upwardly, and when the rod or device is placed against a wall, the holding arms are directed outwardly from the wall. The uppermost rod section can be provided with a single wire rope and, if necessary, with diagonal ropes which are oppositely directed, however, that is, in operation toward the wall.

The device represented in FIG. 17 shows a possible arrangement for combining the various embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 14. In the uppermost part A, the device has a design as shown in FIG. 14, where the wire rope is directed toward the wall when the wall is assumed on the left in the figure. In the range B of the device an embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a diagonal rope (from the bottomoutside to the top-inside) arranged in one extension. The point C within the range B corresponds to the detail set forth in FIGS. 12 and 13, the device is assembled horizontally up to this length and then it is placed in the vertical position after which additional extensions are added.

In the range D the device is similar to the arrange' ment shown in FIG. 1, however, it uses intersecting diagonal wire ropes. At the lower end of the range D a tensioning device, such as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, is provided, and the bottom end of the device is designed as a handle with the wire rope extending outwardly away from the wall.

In the range D relatively thin wall rods can be used, because the wire ropes absorb all the stresses in a safe manner without any longitudinal stress on the rods. However, the bottom range E of the device is formed of a thicker-wall tube.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

The embodiment according to FIG. 14 to 16 can also be simplified in the same manner as in FIG. 1, i.e. with upwardly directed hooks 197, so that the wire ropes 201b to e can be omitted.

What is claimed is:

1. Device for operating tools from ground level,

which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, said rod sections comprising a top rod section arranged to hold the operating tool, a bottom rod section, and at least three intermediate rod sections extending between said top and bottom rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together for selectively varying the axial dimension of said rod, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite end of said rod, said holding means comprising a top holding member located on said top rod section and a bottom holding member located on said bottom rod section, at least two support members positioned on and extending outwardly from said intermediate rod sections and spaced apart in the axial direction of said rods from one another and from said holding members, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding members and supported intermediate its ends by said support members, said wire rope comprising a plurality of first wire rope sections and second wire rope sections, said first wire rope sections extending obliquely to the axis of said rod and extending between one of said top and bottom holding members and the adjacent said support members, and said second wire rope section extending approximately parallel to and spaced outwardly from the axis of said rods and extending between adjacent said support members.

2. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said support member comprises a support guide ring encircling one of said intermediate rod sections and a plurality of angularly spaced arms secured to and extending laterally outwardly from said guide ring, and a plurality of third wire rope sections each extending transversely of the direction of said second wire rope sections between the outer ends of at least two of said anns extending from the same said support member.

3. Device, as set forth in claim 1, including a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction.

4. Device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said arms secured to said guide ring and extending laterally outwardly therefrom are arranged radially of saidrod.

5. Device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein four said arms are secured to said guide ring and each of said arms extends radially outwardly from said guide ring diametrically opposed to another said arm on the opposite side of said rod.

6. Device, as set forth in claim 5, wherein a hook is secured to each radially outer end of said second arms and said wire rope sections each having a loop at one end thereof which is secured onto one of said hooks.

7. Device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein tensioning means are positioned on said first and second rod for tensioning said wire rope sections.

8. Device, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said tensioning means includes tensioning members attached to the outer ends of said support arms of said support members.

9. Device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said wire rope comprises a pair of intersecting diagonally extending fourth wire rope sections extending between adjacent said support members.

10. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support members are spaced apart in the axial direction of said rod and each said support member comprises a pair of arms connected together at one end at a spaced location from said rod and diverging from one another in the direction extending inwardly towards said rod with the ends of said arms adjacent said rod being disposed in contacting relationship and pivotally connected to said rod.

11. Device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each said support member has a ring on the end of each of said arms spaced outwardly from said rod, and the lower ends of said second wire rope sections interconnecting adjacent said support members are secured to said rings.

12. Device, as set forth in claim 2, where each said holding member comprises the holding ring, means for securing said holding ring on said rod against rotation thereon, and attachment members on said holding ring for rigidly securing the ends of said first wire rope sections thereon.

13. Device, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for securing said holding rings against rotation comprises that said holding ring has diametrically disposed bores formed therein, a bolt positioned within and extending through said rod and the diametrically disposed bores in said holding rings, and said attachment members comprise hooks on which the ends of said first wire rope sections are secured.

14. Device, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the one of said support members located uppermost when said rod is in the upwardly extending position having a bolt extending diametrically through said guide ring thereof and said rod for rigidly securing said guide ring on said rod, attachment means on the outer ends of said arms on the uppermost support member, said first wire rope sections extending upwardly from the uppermost support member to said holding member on said top rod section and said second wire rope sections extending downwardly from said uppermost support member to the next lower said support member.

15. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top, intermediate and bottom rod sections are hollow, said means for detachably connecting said rod sections together comprises a coupling tube located within and extending in coaxial direction with each adjacent pair of said rod sections and having a portion of its axial length extending into each of the adjacent said rod sections, a coupling pin mounted in said coupling tube and extending transversely of the axial direction thereof, said coupling tube having a pair of diametrically opposed bores with said coupling pin assembly mounted at its opposite ends within said bores, said coupling pin assembly including an axially displaceable coupling pin and a spring associated with said coupling pin for biasing it into engagement with one of the bores in said coupling tube and said rod section having a bore arranged to align with the bore in said coupling tube for receiving said coupling pin so that said coupling pin is displaceably engaged within the bore in said rod section for securing adjacent said rod sections together.

16. Device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said rod has bores aligned on diametrically opposite sides thereof, and pins secured to the ends of said arms adjacent said rod and positioned within said bores in said rod for pivotally connecting said arms to said rod.

17. Device, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said pin assembly includes a stud member secured within one of the bores in said coupling tube, and said coupling pin positioned on and axially displaceable for a limited extent on said stud member so that said rod section can be uncoupled.

18. Device, as set forth in claim 16, wherein a plurality of hooks are spaced apart along the axial length of said rod, said first wire rope sections are each secured to the ends of said arms spaced outwardly from said rod and attached at their other ends to said hooks on said rod.

19. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rod, at least one support member positioned on and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, said support member comprises a plurality of angularly spaced arms extending laterally outwardly from said rod, a plurality of wire rope sections each extending between the outer ends of at least two of said arms, when said rod is positioned upwardly the device comprises an upper end section and a lower end section, said upper end section includes said holding means positioned adjacent the upper end of said rod and said holding means comprises a holding ring, and one said support member spaced below and adjacent said holding ring, a plurality of said wire ropes extending between said holding ring and the outer ends of said support arms on the adjacent said support member, said lower end section comprises said holding means positioned adjacent the lower end of said rod and includes a holding ring, and one said support member spaced above and adjacent to said holding ring, and a plurality of said wire ropes extending between said holding ring on said lower end section and the outer ends of said supporting arms on the adjacent said support member, tensioning means positioned on said rod for tensioning said wire ropes, said tensioning means includes a tensioning device mounted on said rods below said holding means on said lower end section, said tensioning device including ropes extending between said tensioning device and said holding ring on said lower end section and a pivotally mounted tensioning lever connected to said rope for tensioning said wire ropes.

20. Device, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said tensioning device includes a detachable ratchet device mounted on said rod and selectively engageable with said tensioning lever for tensioning said wire rope.

21. Device, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said holding ring on said lower end section is attached to said rod so that it is secured against rotation and is axially displaceable on said rod.

22. Device, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said support members of said lower end section comprises a square guide tube mounted on said rod, and a square guide ring mounted on and axially displaceable along said guide tube.

23. Device, as set forth in claim 21, wherein said guide tube is rigidly connected to said rod and has a guide piece thereon for guiding the axial displacement of said guide ring.

24. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rods, at least one support member positioned on and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction, a guide roller mounted on and located above said support device, a wire rope trained over said guide roller and secured at one end to said supporting device, and a weight secured to the opposite end of said wire rope.

25. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rods, at least one support member positioned on and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said sup port member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rodin the up and down direction, a support section secured to and extending outwardly from the upper end of said rod, a roller arranged to be mounted on a surface against which said rod is supported so that said roller is located above the upper end of said rod, said roller being movable in the direction transverse to the axial direction of said rod, a guide roller attached to and extending downwardly from said roller, a wire rope connected at one end to said support section at a position spaced outwardly from said rod and extending around said guide roller, and a weight secured to the other end of said wire rope.

26. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rod, at least one support member positioned thereon and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, a supporting'device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction, a guide means secured to the upper end of said rod for guiding the upper end of said rod along a surface and for displacing the upper end of said rod outwardly from said surface.

27. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rods, at least one support member positioned on and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction, a motor drive associated with said supporting device for effecting the upward and downward movement of said rod, and a sealer positioned on the upper end of said rod for reversing the upward and downward movement.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION D d September 3, 1974 Patent No. 3 I 3 Inventor 5) August Q nz It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shownfbelpw:

In the Heading of the Patent:

In the recitation of thevForeign -March 15, '197'2 Switzerland. .3 843/72 Sept. 25, 1972 Switzerland ....1 3985/72--;.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Y Attesting Officer I Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) R ".5. GOVERNMENT PIIN TIIIG- OFFICE I"! 08G-884, 

1. Device for operating tools from ground level, which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, said rod sections comprising a top rod section arranged to hold the operating tool, a bottom rod section, and at least three intermediate rod sections extending between said top and bottom rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together for selectively varying the axial dimension of said rod, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite end of said rod, said holding means comprising a top holding member located on said top rod section and a bottom holding member located on said bottom rod section, at least two support members positioned on and extending outwardly from said intermediate rod sections and spaced apart in the axial direction of said rods from one another and from said holding members, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding members and supported intermediate its ends by said support members, said wire rope comprising a plurality of first wire rope sections and second wire rope sections, said first wire rope sections extending obliquely to the axis of said rod and extending between one of said top and bottom holding members and the adjacent said support members, and said second wire rope section extending approximately parallel to and spaced outwardly from thE axis of said rods and extending between adjacent said support members.
 2. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said support member comprises a support guide ring encircling one of said intermediate rod sections and a plurality of angularly spaced arms secured to and extending laterally outwardly from said guide ring, and a plurality of third wire rope sections each extending transversely of the direction of said second wire rope sections between the outer ends of at least two of said arms extending from the same said support member.
 3. Device, as set forth in claim 1, including a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction.
 4. Device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said arms secured to said guide ring and extending laterally outwardly therefrom are arranged radially of said rod.
 5. Device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein four said arms are secured to said guide ring and each of said arms extends radially outwardly from said guide ring diametrically opposed to another said arm on the opposite side of said rod.
 6. Device, as set forth in claim 5, wherein a hook is secured to each radially outer end of said second arms and said wire rope sections each having a loop at one end thereof which is secured onto one of said hooks.
 7. Device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein tensioning means are positioned on said first and second rod for tensioning said wire rope sections.
 8. Device, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said tensioning means includes tensioning members attached to the outer ends of said support arms of said support members.
 9. Device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said wire rope comprises a pair of intersecting diagonally extending fourth wire rope sections extending between adjacent said support members.
 10. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support members are spaced apart in the axial direction of said rod and each said support member comprises a pair of arms connected together at one end at a spaced location from said rod and diverging from one another in the direction extending inwardly towards said rod with the ends of said arms adjacent said rod being disposed in contacting relationship and pivotally connected to said rod.
 11. Device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each said support member has a ring on the end of each of said arms spaced outwardly from said rod, and the lower ends of said second wire rope sections interconnecting adjacent said support members are secured to said rings.
 12. Device, as set forth in claim 2, where each said holding member comprises the holding ring, means for securing said holding ring on said rod against rotation thereon, and attachment members on said holding ring for rigidly securing the ends of said first wire rope sections thereon.
 13. Device, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for securing said holding rings against rotation comprises that said holding ring has diametrically disposed bores formed therein, a bolt positioned within and extending through said rod and the diametrically disposed bores in said holding rings, and said attachment members comprise hooks on which the ends of said first wire rope sections are secured.
 14. Device, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the one of said support members located uppermost when said rod is in the upwardly extending position having a bolt extending diametrically through said guide ring thereof and said rod for rigidly securing said guide ring on said rod, attachment means on the outer ends of said arms on the uppermost support member, said first wire rope sections extending upwardly from the uppermost support member to said holding member on said top rod section and said second wire rope sections extending downwardly from said uppermost support member to the next lower said support member.
 15. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top, intermediate and bottom rod sections are hollow, said means for detachably connecting said rod sections together comprises a coupling tube located within and extending in coaxial direction with each adjacent pair of said rod sections and having a portion of its axial length extending into each of the adjacent said rod sections, a coupling pin mounted in said coupling tube and extending transversely of the axial direction thereof, said coupling tube having a pair of diametrically opposed bores with said coupling pin assembly mounted at its opposite ends within said bores, said coupling pin assembly including an axially displaceable coupling pin and a spring associated with said coupling pin for biasing it into engagement with one of the bores in said coupling tube and said rod section having a bore arranged to align with the bore in said coupling tube for receiving said coupling pin so that said coupling pin is displaceably engaged within the bore in said rod section for securing adjacent said rod sections together.
 16. Device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said rod has bores aligned on diametrically opposite sides thereof, and pins secured to the ends of said arms adjacent said rod and positioned within said bores in said rod for pivotally connecting said arms to said rod.
 17. Device, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said pin assembly includes a stud member secured within one of the bores in said coupling tube, and said coupling pin positioned on and axially displaceable for a limited extent on said stud member so that said rod section can be uncoupled.
 18. Device, as set forth in claim 16, wherein a plurality of hooks are spaced apart along the axial length of said rod, said first wire rope sections are each secured to the ends of said arms spaced outwardly from said rod and attached at their other ends to said hooks on said rod.
 19. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rod, at least one support member positioned on and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, said support member comprises a plurality of angularly spaced arms extending laterally outwardly from said rod, a plurality of wire rope sections each extending between the outer ends of at least two of said arms, when said rod is positioned upwardly the device comprises an upper end section and a lower end section, said upper end section includes said holding means positioned adjacent the upper end of said rod and said holding means comprises a holding ring, and one said support member spaced below and adjacent said holding ring, a plurality of said wire ropes extending between said holding ring and the outer ends of said support arms on the adjacent said support member, said lower end section comprises said holding means positioned adjacent the lower end of said rod and includes a holding ring, and one said support member spaced above and adjacent to said holding ring, and a plurality of said wire ropes extending between said holding ring on said lower end section and the outer ends of said supporting arms on the adjacent said support member, tensioning means positioned on said rod for tensioning said wire ropes, said tensioning means includes a tensioning device mounted on said rods below said holding means on said lower end section, said tensioning device including ropes extending between said tensioning device and said holding ring on said lower end section and a pivotally mounted tensioning lever connected to said rope for tensioning said wire ropes.
 20. Device, as set forth in claim 18, whErein said tensioning device includes a detachable ratchet device mounted on said rod and selectively engageable with said tensioning lever for tensioning said wire rope.
 21. Device, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said holding ring on said lower end section is attached to said rod so that it is secured against rotation and is axially displaceable on said rod.
 22. Device, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said support members of said lower end section comprises a square guide tube mounted on said rod, and a square guide ring mounted on and axially displaceable along said guide tube.
 23. Device, as set forth in claim 21, wherein said guide tube is rigidly connected to said rod and has a guide piece thereon for guiding the axial displacement of said guide ring.
 24. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rods, at least one support member positioned on and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction, a guide roller mounted on and located above said support device, a wire rope trained over said guide roller and secured at one end to said supporting device, and a weight secured to the opposite end of said wire rope.
 25. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rods, at least one support member positioned on and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction, a support section secured to and extending outwardly from the upper end of said rod, a roller arranged to be mounted on a surface against which said rod is supported so that said roller is located above the upper end of said rod, said roller being movable in the direction transverse to the axial direction of said rod, a guide roller attached to and extending downwardly from said roller, a wire rope connected at one end to said support section at a position spaced outwardly from said rod and extending around said guide roller, and a weight secured to the other end of said wire rope.
 26. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rod, at least one support member positioned thereon and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direCtion on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction, a guide means secured to the upper end of said rod for guiding the upper end of said rod along a surface and for displacing the upper end of said rod outwardly from said surface.
 27. Device for operating tools from ground level which tools are located at a considerable height above ground level, comprising an axially elongated rod formed of a plurality of rod sections, means for detachably connecting said rod sections together, holding means positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said rods, at least one support member positioned on and extending laterally outwardly from said rod, said support member positioned between said holding means, at least one wire rope secured at its ends to said holding means and supported intermediate its ends by said support member, a supporting device for said rod, said supporting device including a guide attached to the lower end of said rod, said guide arranged to move in the up and down direction on said supporting device for moving said rod in the up and down direction, a motor drive associated with said supporting device for effecting the upward and downward movement of said rod, and a sealer positioned on the upper end of said rod for reversing the upward and downward movement. 